Can Blackcurrant (Ribes Nigrum L) Help in Control of Ligneous Conjunctivitis? by Mariana Granito Ponte de Oliveira in Medical & Surgical Ophthalmology Research

1. Copyright © Mariana Granito Ponte de Oliveira
Mariana Granito Ponte de Oliveira*
Department of ophthalmology, Spain
*Corresponding author: Mariana Granito Ponte de Oliveira, Department of ophthalmology, Spain.
Submission: January 01, 2018; Published: February 28, 2018
Can Blackcurrant (Ribes Nigrum L) Help in
Control of Ligneous Conjunctivitis?
Opinion
Plasminogen is an enzyme that is linked to the dissolution of
fibrin, and consequently thrombi. It plays an important role in the
recruitment of macrophages during the inflammatory response.
Plasminogen deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disease, which
may be heterozygotes asymptomatic or homozygou symptomatics.
It can be correlated to appearance of low levels of plasminogen in
children, whose both parents have reduced values [1].
The ligneous Conjunctivitis (LC) is the most common
presentation of clinical syndromes associated with type I
plasminogen deficiency [2,3]. It’s a rare pathology and may be more
prevalent in areas where consanguinity is more common [1,3]. Its
diagnosisisbasedonclinical,histologicalandpossiblypositivefamily
history. Clinical findings are usually: Chronic tearing, conjunctival
hyperemia, pseudomembranous lesion in the conjunctiva and/or
other mucosal sites of the body, possibly associated with colloid
milium or obstructive congenital hydrocephalus. Such membranes
are deeply adhered to the conjunctiva of the eyelid, with its free end.
Removal tends to cause bleeding because the area is vascularized
[4,5].
It is possible to verify the presence of mast cells and eosinophils
in the lesions, which leads to believe that the deposition of the
secretions would be by degranulation of these mast cells. It is also
understood that massive extravasation of plasma constituents,
fibrin in particular that end up forming a kind of granulous lesion
[4,6]. A Ribes nigrum L. (Glossulariaceae), popularly known as
blackcurrant, is a plant known to be a source of highly antioxidant
gamolinic acid [7,8]. The literature shows that it has anticoagulant
effect by being able to inhibit the formation of fibrin [7].
Granito & Ferreira [5] shown a case study, with a Patient C.G.C.P.,
13 years old, “female, diagnosed at 3 years old with ligneous
conjunctivitis due to a symptomatic homozygous deficiency of
plasminogen (Functional Plasminogen 20%; Reference threshold
according to the medical diagnostic laboratory: 70% to 140%).
Concomitant to the disease, the same featured low immunity with
frequent appearance of skin infections due to atopic dermatitis, and
in the respiratory tract, constant rashes, and excessive production
of secretions in the mucosa of the eyelid, with growth of ligneous
pseudo membrane (PL). Since the beginning of the lesions, around
2 years of age, the same underwent surgical procedures several
times for the removal of the PL, which were recurrent weeks after
removal. This process was carried out as reported in the present
study, without the use of the specific medication described. She
only used anesthetic eye drops in the post-operative period, and
topical use of loteprednol elaborate (2 mg applied 3x/day). The
treatment with about 1g/day of calf thymus acid lysate was carried
out, equivalent to 20 mg of the active ingredient thymomodulin in
an attempt to improve the immune system without great results”
But, the patient cessed the nutritional treatment [5] and mucus
production increased, as well as the level of growth of PL. So, a
therapy with 500mg/day of Ribes nigrum seed oil was started with
this same patient two years later.
After 2 moths of treatment, there was a significant improvement
in the production of mucus in the eyes and PL had a soft texture, easy
to remove, often releasing small pieces after hot water massage (in
the bath). It is therefore suggested that this therapy may present
important results, therefore, larger studies are recommended.
References
1. Cohen J, Cohen S, Cymberknoh MC, Gross M, Hirshoren N, et al. (2012)
Laryngeal obstruction in congenital plasminogen deficiency. Pediatr
Pulmonol 47(9): 923-925.
2. Kraft J, Lieb W, Zeitler P, Schuster V (2000) Ligneous conjunctivitis in
a girl with severe type I plasminogen deficiency. Graefes Arch Clin Exp
Ophthalmol 238(9): 797-800.
3. Mehta R, Shapiro AD (2008) Plasminogen deficiency. Haemophilia
14(6): 261-1268.
4. Holland EJ, Schwartz GS (1997) Ligneous conjunctivis. In: Krachmer JH
& Mannis MJ (Eds.), Cornea and extrenal disease: clinical diagnosis and
management. Cornea pp. 863-889.
5. Granito M, Ferreira JM (2016) Nutritional treatment for leagnous
conjuntivitis: case report and literature review and case report. Rev Bras
Oftalmol 75(6): 476-480.
6. Schuster V, Seregard S (2003) Ligneous conjunctivitis. Surv Ophthalmol
48(4): 369-388.
7. Goffman FD, Galletti S (2001) Gamma-linolenic acid and tocopherol
contents in the seed oil of 47 accessions from several Ribes species.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 49(1): 349-354.
8. Cord D, Popescu M, Hobeanu I, Sandulovici RC, Raiciu AD (2017) Efectul
antiinflamator al speciei Ribes nigrum. Romanian Journal of Medical
Practice 12(2): 97-103.
Opinion
1/2Copyright © All rights are reserved by Mariana Granito Ponte de Oliveira.
Volume 1 - Issue - 5
Medical & Surgical
Ophthalmology ResearchC CRIMSON PUBLISHERS
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ISSN 2578-0360

2. Med Surg Ophthal Res Copyright © Mariana Granito Ponte de Oliveira
2/2How to cite this article: Mariana G P de O. Can Blackcurrant (Ribes Nigrum L) Help in Control of Ligneous Conjunctivitis?. Med Surg Ophthal Res. 1(5).
MSOR.000521. 2018. DOI: 10.31031/MSOR.2018.01.000521
Volume 1 - Issue - 5
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